BARNSLEY 10

OTLIENSIANS 9

ONCE again Old Otliensians were forced to make changes for the visit to Barnsley in the first round of the Yorkshire Shield.

With Steve Foster, Prepal Bachra, Andy Hayward and Dave Roberts unavailable their places were filled by Neil Birkett, Rob Wilkes, Anthony Collins and Darren Hardie.

Opening the game with the advantage of the slight slope Otliensians started well winning good possession in the tight and the line-out but when trying to open out to attack they met a very solid Barnsley defence.

They suffered a blow after 25 minutes when Graham Bentley had to leave the field with a badly bruised shoulder. He was replaced by Simon Coates.

Shortly before half-time Otliensians went behind to a try by the Barnsley No 8 Simon Cherry but they hit back strongly and camped in the Barnsley half and when the home forwards offended Ian Chaplin kicked three well placed penalties to put his side ahead 9-5 at the break.

In the second-half Barnsley came more into the game and attacked for long periods. Otliensians' defence proved as capable as Barnsley's had been in the first-half. They were still doing well in the line-outs through Richard Smith and Darren Hardie and with Peter Bonner putting in some good driving runs the situation looked quite promising for the Otliensians side.

However, with 15 minutes to go a clearing kick from behind their own goal line failed to find touch.

Barnsley ran back the possession and forced forward Robert Naylor over for a try. There was a massive pile up on the line and the touchdown was at least untidy. Although there was no conversion the try put the home side one point ahead.

With the bit between their teeth they became even more resolute to hang on to the single point lead. So that is the end of Otliensians' Shield campaign for this season.

There is no game on Saturday for Otliensians but their next fixture is on January 2.

With the club finding itself without second or third team fixture last Saturday Fixture Secretary Adrian Normanton went into the 'Pool' and fixed up the second team to travel to Wensleydale and for the third team to entertain Rowntrees seconds.

On the day however both fixtures fell apart with the second team not being able to find a front row to travel to Wensleydale and the third team left waiting for Rowntrees to arrive at Pool Road but they never did.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.